Dariusz Rudnicki offers the following royalty-free article for you to publish online or in print. Feel free to use this article in your newsletter, website, ezine, blog, or forum. ----------- PUBLICATION GUIDELINES - You have permission to publish this article for free providing the "About the Author" box is included in its entirety. - Do not post/reprint this article in any site or publication that contains hate, violence, porn, warez, or supports illegal activity. - Do not use this article in violation of the US CAN-SPAM Act. If sent by email, this article must be delivered to opt-in subscribers only. - If you publish this article in a format that supports linking, please ensure that all URLs and email addresses are active links. - Please send a copy of the publication, or an email indicating the URL to [email protected] - Article Marketer (www.ArticleMarketer.com) has distributed this article on behalf of the author. Article Marketer does not own this article, please respect the author's copyright and publication guidelines. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use this article. ----------- Article Title: The Dark Side of Ice Dam Formations Author: Dariusz Rudnicki Category: Home Word Count: 487 Keywords: ice dams, ice damming, attic ventilation, roof ventilation Author's Email Address: [email protected] Article Source: http://www.articlemarketer.com ------------------ ARTICLE START ------------------
Ice dam formations along the edges of your home roof and icicles hanging from the gutters and / or soffits should never be ignored. Their beauty on the exterior has roots penetrating your house attic and wall structures, often causing significant damage. There are three main things responsible for creating ice dams: 1. Inadequate / improper house attic insulation 2. Inadequate house attic ventilation 3. Heat sources in attic area Any areas between the attic and living space that are missing or have a low amount of insulation permit unwanted heat to transfer from the house into the unheated attic. Warmer air elevates the roof deck temperature directly above the "leak" and causes snow to melt onto the roof surface. Water running down the roof towards the area along the gutters / over the soffits starts re-freezing (soffits and gutters are colder than the rest of the roof surface because they hang over the house edge), creating an ice dam. Water from melting snow and ice forms icicles; some of the water below and above the ice dam will find its way back under the shingle surfaces. If your roof has no ice & water shield installed (older roofs rarely have that), the roof deck becomes soaked with water and eventually mold starts growing on its surface. In some roof / house structure designs, water from the ice dams might start dripping into the wall cavity located directly underneath it. If you have any heat sources in the house attic like improperly installed bathroom vents, heating ducts, gaps around the attic floor penetrations, etc., you are dramatically increasing your chances for ice dam formations. Properly designed attic ventilation, including plenty of soffit / drip edge vents and roof top vents, may be able to remove the excess of heat and prevent ice dams from appearing on your roof. However, by leaving leaks as they are, you are wasting expensive energy. Observe your roof after the snowfall. If you notice snow disappearing from the roof surface in certain areas - check the attic. The main problem should be directly below that spot where the snow has already melted. It may take only a little effort to find it, but be extremely careful when evaluating the attic - don't do it if you are not 100% comfortable with it! It doesn't take much snow on the roof to create serious conditions in the attic and ice dams on the exterior. If you chose to ignore it, though, it might require a lot of effort and money to fix it. Roof and gutter heating cables - they help to eliminate ice dams, and might be your only solution for some types of roofs. However, if your house has an accessible attic, and poor attic ventilation is responsible for ice dams - correct the problem. It might not be cheaper, but it will also help to keep your house cooler during the summer. Check your attic periodically, especially during the cold and rainy season. Dariusz Rudnicki is a licensed Illinois home inspector who has been in this business for over ten years. Are you preparing your house for sale or looking for an advice on any type of problems with your house? All you need to do is visit http://www.checkthishouse.com and ask him for help. ------------------ ARTICLE END ------------------ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
